The Rapture of the Church is not intrinsically dependent upon any other prophetic event for it to occur. However, there are other prophetic connections dependent upon the Rapture for their own fulfillment. The arrival of the Antichrist is one of those examples. There has to be a man who fits the Biblical descriptions, ready to seize upon the chaos that would ensue in the aftermath of a Rapture scenario. This leads one to believe either one of two things; this particular man was made for the times, or the times will make him.

The great man theory was an idea first proposed by the 19th-century Scottish writer Thomas Carlyle. He posited that due to either the power of their persona (intellect, charisma, political and/or leadership skills), certain men uniquely impacted or subsequently altered human history through their actions. Years later, Herbert Spencer countered this idea by stating the opposite. It wasn't the men who changed history through the sheer power of their will, but rather, society (their day and age) which created the conditions necessary for them to rise to greatness.

Human history is filled with the heroic stories of once great men. Whether their accounts were true, or myth, or rather just largely embellished biographies, men like Alexander the Great, Napoleon, Genghis Khan, King Arthur, Charlemagne, Nimrod, etc., continue to live on in legend. But if we look back even further, we come to an age known as either Pre-History or the Antediluvian era (pre-flood). Here, the Bible in Genesis 6:4 simply refers to the Nephilim (fallen ones) as "the mighty men of old" and "men of renown."

These Nephilim were none other than the hybrid offspring of both fallen angelic beings and human women. We know that angels can take on the form of men (Gen. 19, Hebrews 13:2). How they reproduced is another question, although, the phrase sons of God (bene Elohim) does not leave us with any other legitimate alternatives. These sons of God would have had to been angelic in nature, however, in some fallen state apart from God and His divine order.

It would seem that the veil between the physical and the spiritual world then was not in place at that time. Because of that, it is largely believed that these beings were the basis for which most of mythology (Egyptian, Assyrian, Greek, Roman, etc.) was based upon. Perhaps these demigods were the Übermensch Friedrich Nietzsche once longed for in his book, Thus Spoke Zarathustra.

Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately), the world that was then was lost to us in the watery judgment God brought upon the earth in those days. It is largely unknown apart from speculation, how populated the earth was then; or to what extent these fallen creatures impacted the goings on of the world that was then. All we do know with exact certainty is that Christ told us the days just before His return, would be like the days of Noah. Those days were marked with great wickedness and violence (Gen. 6:1-12, 19; Luke 17:27-29).

If we look at the world today, there are currently around seventy-five active armed conflicts going on at any given time. There are probably an additional five or six, which could (given the right conditions), spark a global war, should their conditions deteriorate further. Rapid advancements in technology has almost guaranteed the likelihood that immoral agents will at some point, use that technology for nefarious purposes. In addition, there is an increased hybridization of threats merging historic anger with modern technology. If we then add in: Criminal activity, weaponized immigration, nuclear, chemical, biological, and energy weapons of mass destruction, increased natural disasters, intentional misinformation campaigns, global terrorism, false teachers and movements, and increased lawlessness, the world of the 21st-century is turning out to be a pretty scary place to live.

Which begs the question, how much of today is like the days of Noah?

Assessment

And as it was in the days of Noah, so it will be also in the days of the Son of Man: They ate, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built; but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed. Luke 17:27-30

If we add in the other major descriptor Jesus refers to in Luke 17 into the equation, that being the days of Lot (which was primarily notable for the attempted sodomization of Lot's angelic guests) it is probably a lot like Noah's day. Sexual perversion of every stripe is not just tolerated; it is being celebrated (teaching, law, holidays, etc.) in many places. Therefore, we have both a time of great wickedness and violence, and a time when sexual perversion once again achieves normalcy amongst a majority of nations in the world.

All that to point out the reality that the world of today is exceedingly violent and wicked. And because of that, the people of the world are begging for a savior now more than ever. This would explain the popularity of superhero movies and entertainment (TV, books, movies, comics, etc.). Think back to a generation ago and see whom the heroes were...cowboys, military, lawmen, etc. Today, superheroes are enhanced humans, mutants, and/or extra-terrestrial (or dimensional) beings with super powers and abilities. To which, may prove Herbert Spencer correct. The conditions of the day set the requirements for the type of hero (or antihero) necessary to right the wrongs of said day.

In other words, if we need Superman to fix our problems, then we have some very big problems.

According to Jesus, the conditions in the world before His return promise to be exceedingly wicked, dark, and violent. If the conditions of a society brings about the right "great man," then the days just before the Tribulation promise to bring in the greatest leader this world has ever known.

Enter, the rider on the white horse...

Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, "Come and see." And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer. Revelation 6:1-2

Although we cannot know who this man is, we can know some of the peripheral information about him. So who is he?

Who: This is the man we commonly refer to as the Antichrist, the son of perdition, or the lawless one. The world will hail him as the great man who will lead them out of the earth's greatest crisis. This author believes that great global crisis to be the Rapture of the Church as explained in numerous previous briefs.

What: If we look throughout the entirety of Scripture, we can see prophetic references to this man going all the way back to Genesis 3:15. The offspring of Satan (represented then in the form of a serpent), would be one whom would ultimately come in the place of and against Jesus Christ. Referencing the fourth kingdom in the book of Daniel, note the specifics in the interpretation the Angel Gabriel gave Daniel...

And in the latter time of their kingdom,When the transgressors have reached their fullness,A king shall arise,Having fierce features,Who understands sinister schemes.His power shall be mighty, but not by his own power;He shall destroy fearfully,And shall prosper and thrive;He shall destroy the mighty, and also the holy people.Through his cunningHe shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule;And he shall exalt himself in his heart.He shall destroy many in their prosperity.He shall even rise against the Prince of princes;But he shall be broken without human means Daniel 7:23-25

When: This one comes in the latter time of their kingdom (the fourth kingdom), when the transgressors have reached their fullness. We know historically that the fourth kingdom mentioned in both Nebuchadnezzar's vision of the multi-metallic statue (Daniel 2) as well as the hybrid beasts Daniel sees (Daniel 7-8), speak to the Roman Empire. Does this fullness mean the world of the first century Roman Empire, with a global population of 200 million? Or the world of the 21st-century with its 7.5 billion and a revived Roman Empire? It would seem that the latter makes more sense than the former in terms of fullness. Therefore, it appears that we are in the right age for this man to come about.

Where: This Antichrist comes out from somewhere within the confines of the old Roman Empire's boundaries...which stretched as far north as Great Britain, to as far south as northern Africa. From as far west as Spain (or Tarshish then), to as far east as modern day Iraq. So the Antichrist comes from somewhere within this particular boundary.

How: The Apostle Paul states that when he comes, he will come with all power, signs, and lying wonders as well by having the full backing of Satan. This means that he will be able to do what no other leader in the history of man, has ever been able to do (2 Thessalonians 2:3-11). He will be the world's first legitimately bonafide, superhero. Not only that, but that the world (whom Satan currently manages) will hand it over to him (see also Luke 4:5-6). Note that in Daniel 7:25, he is destroyed without human means, which rules out any other great and terrible leader of history.

The Apostle John is shown things that are even more revealing in that this lawless one seemingly fakes his own resurrection.

And I saw one of his heads as if it had been mortally wounded, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world marveled and followed the beast. So they worshiped the dragon who gave authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast? Who is able to make war with him?"

And he was given a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies, and he was given authority to continue for forty-two months. Then he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme His name, His tabernacle, and those who dwell in heaven. It was granted to him to make war with the saints and to overcome them. And authority was given him over every tribe, tongue, and nation. Revelation 13:3-7

Conclusion

Why: Satan knows he is doomed and is trying everything he can to avoid God's impending judgment on him. He figures if he can destroy Israel, then he can prevent Bible prophecy from happening, which would mean God's word has been broken. He will use this man of sin to accomplish just that. However, there have been many antichrists, and a spirit of antichrist that has been present in the world since Christ ascended.

Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. 1 John 2:18

It is likely that Satan has had many potential Antichrists who would have filled those shoes had his restraint allowed it. However, God has seen fit he (the Antichrist/Beast) would not come about until after the fullness of the Gentiles accomplishes its intended goal, which is the Rapture of the Church. It just so happens that this also the time in which technology most benefits this man of sin to take total control of the planet. Truly, his reign will be as Daniel saw it,

...behold, a fourth beast, dreadful and terrible, exceedingly strong. It had huge iron teeth; it was devouring, breaking in pieces, and trampling the residue with its feet. It was different from all the beasts that were before it, and it had ten horns. Daniel 7:7

The bad news is that this great man theory is not a theory. It is about to be fulfilled in a terrifying way. The only good news is that the Church will not be here on earth to see him or his government take shape in any recognizable way. Hence why Paul states in 2nd Thessalonians 2:7-8; for the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed...The Holy Spirit filled Church is the restraining force of this particular kind of evil on the earth. We are the salt and light (Matt. 5:13-16) of this current age. We are the promise built upon the Rock of which the gates of hell that would not overcome (Matt. 16:18). It isn't that we as the Church are innocent or capable of thwarting Satan's machinations, but the Holy Spirit who has sealed and indwells us that is the instrument of restraint here and now (1 Cor. 3:16, Eph. 1:13-14).

He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming quickly." Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus! Revelation 22:18

UPDATED: (Jerusalem, Israel) - Shalom from Jerusalem. Please keep both Israelis and Palestinians in your prayers today and all month. If there was ever a time to pray for the peace of Jerusalem, this would be it for we are in a unique moment in history.

The mood here among Israeli Jews is celebratory - festive, jubilant - as Washington formally moves her Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem today in official recognition that Jerusalem is the capital of the State of Israel. The move was timed to coincide with the 70th anniversary of the modern rebirth of Israel. There are American flags everywhere. Israelis are so grateful for the friendship and alliance of the U.S. and are expressing this openly. [Watch a replay of the Embassy dedication ceremony here.]

Most Palestinians, however - and particularly Palestinian Authority leaders - are furious with the move. President Mahmoud Abbas and P.A. officials have chosen to boycott all meetings with U.S. representatives for the foreseeable future. [UPDATE: Abbas blasts U.S. Embassy Move: An insult to the world and to the Palestinians.]

The latest rhetoric against Israel by Palestinian leaders and Iranian leaders is as dark as ever. Terrorist attacks against Israel are increasing. What's more, some radical Islamist leaders are threatening all-out war against the Jewish State.

That said, it does not feel dangerous in Jerusalem or most population centers in Israel. Tens of thousands of police and security officials are on the streets of Jerusalem and deployed around the country. Most of the attacks are occurring on the southern border with Gaza, the northern border with Syria, and against Israeli settlers in Judea and Samaria (commonly known as the West Bank).

Tourism to Israel is at an all-time high - no tour groups go anywhere near dangerous areas. "An all-time record 3.6 million tourists visited Israel in 2017 - 25% more than in 2016," reported Globes, a publication which tracks the Israeli economy. "The country from which the largest number of tourists to Israel come is the US - over 700,000 tourists - 21% more than in 2016." In fact, tourism in 2018 is hitting record-highs, as well.

Lynn and I live in Jerusalem with our sons and we don't feel worried. We remain on track for welcoming The Joshua Fund tour here in July, and hosting the Epicenter Prayer Summit. Indeed, I've also been speaking to numerous Evangelical tour groups that have been visiting here in recent months and everything has been safe and wonderful.

That said, here are the latest developments worth noting. These are among the many reasons we would be grateful for your faithful and ongoing prayers.

At this hour, an estimated 50,000 Palestinians in Gaza are participating in a "Day of Rage" against Israel. Many are trying to tear down, burn down, or blow up the security fence that protects our southern border and to storm into Israel en masse.

Reports in recent days said as many as 100,000 Palestinians were planning to participate. So far it hasn't got that big - but the violence is real.

"The IDF killed three [Palestinian] terrorists who tried to plant an explosive device in the Rafah area and attacked a Hamas post in the northern strip after shots were fired on soldiers," reported Ynet News. As of 4pm Israel time, 37 Palestinians had been killed and hundreds more wounded trying to destroy the security fence and penetrate into Israel.

UPDATE: As of 6pm local time, 43 Palestinians have reportedly been killed trying to penetrate Israel's southern border fence with Gaza.

UPDATE: On Friday, "a group of some 200 Palestinians...set fire to the Gaza Strip's only fuel terminal and a conveyor belt used for raw construction materials. Two conveyor belts which brought animal feed into Gaza were also wrecked, according to the deputy director of the crossing," reported the Times of Israel. "According to assessments by Israeli and Palestinian engineers, it will take weeks to repair the damage to the pipelines, which brought diesel and gasoline into Gaza. There is no alternative. 'There's just no possibility [now] to bring fuel into Gaza,' said the senior officer from the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories liaison unit."

Since President Trump announced in December his intention to move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem in keeping with U.S. law (originally passed in 1995 and unanimously reaffirmed by the Senate in 2017), the number of Palestinian terrorist attacks against Israeli soldiers and military sites has tripled.

This month, Iran directly engaged Israel militarily for the first-time ever. The attack came just after Prime Minister Netanyahu announced the Mossad had stolen 100,000 top secret Iranian nuclear warhead documents, and President Trump formally announced his decision to withdraw the U.S. from the deeply flawed and dangerous nuclear deal with Iran. "Iranian forces fired 20 rockets at Israel Defense Forces positions in the Golan Heights on Wednesday night. Four of the rockets aimed toward Israel were intercepted by the Iron Dome air defense system while the remaining rockets exploded on Syrian territory, the [Israeli] military said," reported Haaretz. "The Iranian attack prompted the most extensive Israeli strike on Syria in decades; overnight, Israel openly attacked dozens of Iranian military and logistics targets in Syria."

Meanwhile, Ayman al-Zawahiri - the Egyptian-born head of Al Qaeda - has just made a new call for Muslims to wage "jihad" against Israel.

UPDATE: Al-Qaida chief claims Tel Aviv is 'Muslim land'

And a top Shia religious cleric in Iran has just vowed that "Tel Aviv and Haifa will be totally destroyed" if Israel continues to behave "foolishly" (i.e., exist and defend herself), repeating yet again the kind of belligerent rhetoric that has characterized the Iranian regime for decades.

That's where we are at the moment. I promise to keep you posted and encourage you to follow me on Twitter for the up-to-the-minute updates.

A fully-fledged war between Israel and Iran is no longer a question of if, but when. The withdrawal of the United States of America from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), otherwise known as the Iranian nuclear deal, has shifted events in the Middle East into a much higher gear. The United States, despite the criticism Trump has received, is right to withdraw from JCPOA, as it is a deeply flawed and quite ridiculous international treaty.

All sides have long known that the main protagonist, Iran, has broken almost every key provision of the agreement since its very inception. Yet, despite this obvious disingenuousness, the international community has been more than content to let the charade continue - likely because they are not the ones lying directly in the crosshairs of a potential future Iranian nuclear weapon.

So America, under Donald Trump, who called the JCPOA a "horrible, one-sided deal that should have never, ever been made," finally brought the pantomime to an end. But Trump went further than simply ending the JCPOA. Vastly underreported by the MSM were the additional expectations that the United States has placed on Iran, post JCPOA.

In the final section of the "Talking Points" released by the White House to the press after Trump's withdrawal speech, the Trump administration went very much further than merely withdrawing from the deal. It went on to state that, "President Trump is making clear that, in addition to never developing a nuclear weapon, the Iranian regime must" perform eight actions.

-Never have an ICBM, cease developing any nuclear-capable missiles, and stop proliferating ballistic missiles to others.-Cease its support for terrorists, extremists, and regional proxies such as Hezbollah, Hamas, the Taliban, and al-Qaeda.-End its publicly declared quest to destroy Israel.-Stop its threats to freedom of navigation, especially in the Persian Gulf and Red Sea.-Cease escalating the Yemen conflict and destabilizing the region by proliferating weapons to the Houthis.-End its cyber-attacks against the United States and our allies, including Israel.-Stop its grievous human rights abuses, shown most recently in the regime's crackdown against widespread protests by Iranian citizens.-Stop its unjust detention of foreigners, including United States citizens.

This is the basis of a whole new US regional strategy, not just a withdrawal. Iran, quite frankly, has no chance of complying with these eight expectations.

The response from Tehran was bombastic. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani ordered the country's atomic agency to prepare to enrich uranium to "industrial levels" for use in nuclear weapons. And then, on Wednesday night, Iran decided to go on the offensive against Israel. After some small scale Israeli strikes against various Iranian targets inside Syria, Iran took the decision to launch twenty plus rockets into northern Israel.

Israel's response was as immediate as it was decisive. Striking back at Iranian assets within Syria, with a severity of action not seen since the Yom Kippur War, Israel believes it has struck and substantially degraded all of Iran's military capabilities within Syria.

"Whoever hits us will get hit seven times over. Whoever prepares themselves to attack us will be attacked first," Netanyahu said. This is the Samson Doctrine, the Israeli first-strike military doctrine, and Iran should beware. (1)

Israel, in the severity of its response, has drawn a very clear red line in the sand against Iranian and Hezbollah attempts to move south through Syria towards the Golan Heights. Indeed, at point of writing, Israel believes it has destroyed all key Iranian military infrastructures within Syria.

Yet, Israel also knows that it treads a fine line in its actions in Syria. Israel's decisiveness against Iran is constrained by two very clear red lines, both Russian: that the Syrian regime headed by Assad is preserved, and that there be no harm to Russian assets or personnel on the ground in Syria.

It was, no doubt, because Israel is treading such a fine line that Netanyahu just days ago visited Russia and was Vladimir Putin's guest of honor at the annual Victory Day Celebration parade. Netanyahu, even whilst military operations were being prepared back in Israel against Iran, was attempting to gauge Putin's acquiescence to Israeli strikes, and more important, to understand clearly what Russia's limits were.

Once that was understood and coming at the same time as the US withdrawal from the JCPOA, and the near perfect alignment of Trump, Bolton and Pompeo, all staunchly pro-Israel, many in Israel saw the opportunity to move conclusively against Iran in Syria as a "now or never moment." Iran's misguided and rather pointless attack merely gave Israel the pretext to flatten them inside Syria.

Equally, the Saudis and Emiratis, now deep strategic allies with Israel against Iran, also seem to be gearing up for a fresh assault against Iranian power in their sphere of influence, the Gulf, in an increasingly imminent attack on Hodeida in Yemen. They also, like Israel, realize that this near perfect alignment of Trump-Bolton-Pompeo works very much in their favor as well.

We are witnessing the formation of a military alliance in the Middle Eastern region against Iran. The Tel Aviv-Riyadh-Abu Dhabi alliance, strange bedfellows but thrown together by a mutual Iranian threat, feel that they finally have a green light from both the United States, and to a degree Russia through their acquiescence, to really push back against Iran - in the Middle East through Israel, and in the Gulf through the Saudi's and the Emirates, confronting Iran in a proxy war in Yemen.

What happens next will depend very much on how Iran chooses to respond. If the Iranians are wise, as some in Israel have intimated, they would sit back, not respond military against Israel, and negotiate with the Europeans to keep the Iran deal alive until Trump (they hope) is voted from office in 2020, a mere eighteen months away.

However, the hardliners in Tehran will likely have an altogether different set of ideas. They may rise to the bait. This may well be exacerbated by the exceptionally harsh sanctions the United States is about to place on Tehran. These forthcoming US sanctions will be designed by America to force the Iranians back to the negotiating table. Iran is well aware of the very weak hand it currently holds should it be forced to the table to negotiate. It is likely that, because of this, Iran may well believe that the only way they can improve their hand is via some form of military escalation against Israel.

Iran may confront Israel directly, through Syria, or they may decide to push their proxy group Hezbollah, to the north of Israel, into the battlefield against the Jewish State. If they do, Hezbollah will attempt to bring to bear more than 100,000 rockets against Israel. Devastating though this would certainly be, Israel is not as terrified of this scenario as many would think.

There is a growing belief within the IDF that right now, whilst Hezbollah forces are exhausted from such a prolonged and bloody fight in Syria, and whilst Iran has just been given a bloody nose, now is the appropriate and opportune time to move against their northern enemy and eliminate the threat whilst they are still weakened from battle.

It is a fight that Hezbollah's Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah seems to welcome: "The war in Syria with proxies is coming to an end, and the second war with the genuine enemies may soon begin."

Events in Syria and the Middle East are moving really fast. And with the approaching date of May 14th next week, they are unlikely to calm in the near future. The anniversary of the rebirth of the nation of Israel, a day the Palestinians and others in the Middle East commemorate as Nakba Day, literally the day of "disaster," "catastrophe," or "cataclysm," means that the next seven days could well change the course of the entire Middle East, or the world.

Many are talking of the urgent need to prevent another war between Iran and Israel. It seems to me that war is already upon them. A conflagration is ahead.

Bible prophecy is, potentially, about to be fulfilled right before our eyes.

On April 29, 2018, Israeli jets struck a military base in Syria. Dozens of people from a variety of nations were wounded and roughly 18-24 Iranians were killed.

The next day, three U.S. officials told NBC TV the attack is a sign that Israel and Iran are moving closer to open warfare.

They said, "On the list of the potentials for most likely live hostility around the world, the battle between Israel and Iran in Syria is at the top of the list right now."

Israel's Defense Minister soon said that Iran's regime is "living its final days."

The Deputy Commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guard said, "100,000 missiles are ready to fly" toward Israel for the destruction of the Jewish nation.

Iran continues to move troops and weapons into Syria even though Prime. Min. Netanyahu said Israel will not let Iran establish a permanent presence there.

Israel's military is on high alert for the third week in a row.

The government has ordered its bomb shelters in northern Israel to be unlocked and prepared for use.

On May 6, 2018, an Israeli official said, "If Assad [Pres. Assad of Syria] allows Iran to turn Syria into a military vanguard against us, to attack us from Syrian territory, he should know that would be the end of him, the end of his regime."

Israeli Intelligence has determined that Iranian-sponsored terrorist groups in Lebanon and Syria are preparing to attack Israel.

Israeli satellites have detected increased activity at one of Iran's two nuclear enrichment centers even though Israel said she will not let Iran get nuclear weapons.

Russia has started construction on a second nuclear reactor in Iran.

It is important to recall that many leaders including those at the UN, EU, France and England have told Pres. Trump that withdrawing from the Iranian nuclear deal will lead to war because a U.S. withdrawal will trigger sanctions on Iran.

Iran's Pres. Rouhani said, if the U.S. withdraws from the nuclear deal, "It will soon see that the mistake will be a historic one."

On May 7, 2018, DebkaFile reported that the U.S., England and France have military forces on the way to bases in nations that share a border with Syria.

England and France have also deployed additional jets to the Middle East.

On May 8, 2018, Pres. Trump announced that the U.S. will withdraw from the Iranian nuclear deal and immediately re-impose crippling economic sanctions on Iran. Some companies will be given 90 days to close their businesses.

About one hour after Pres. Trump's announced withdrawal, Israeli jets attacked an Iranian base with missiles aimed at Israel. The base was approximately 10 miles south of Damascus. One report said 9 Iranians were killed and several were wounded.

That night, the Israeli army warned the citizens of northern Israel that it had abnormal movement of Iranian forces in Syria.

In the past, Iran has said she will retaliate at a time and in the way of her choosing. This time, an Iranian commander said Iran is watching and waiting before going on the attack.

Israel said the campaign against Iran's presence in Syria has just started.

Will war take place in the coming days or weeks? Let's hope not unless it is God's will. I say "unless it is God's will" because the prophet Ezekiel said God will pull Russia and her allies into the Battle of Gog and Magog (Ezek. 38:4).

But don't forget that Isaiah and Ezekiel predicted several wars that will take place in that area at the end of the age, so the possibility exists that those prophecies could soon be fulfilled.

Perhaps, the greatest sign of the end of the age is the convergence of all of the signs, and all of them appear to be converging right now (Matt. 24:33).

Jesus clearly taught that branches and leaves on a fig tree are a sign that summer is near and the convergence of the signs means that His return is near, even at the doors (Matt. 24:33).

I am not an expert on fig trees, but I have read that fig trees usually produce two crops: one in the spring on new limbs and the other in the fall on old limbs.

The spring crop is not very tasty, but the fall crop is very tasty. The tree blossoms between the two crops.

Jesus may have been saying that Israel, the fig tree (Hos. 9:10; Jer. 24:1-7), will appear in the spring, blossom in the summer, and bear good fruit in the late summer and fall.

This fits the two prophesied waves of Israel's return: a first group of Jews returning in unbelief, the nation blossoming, and a second group of Jews returning as believers.

About half of the Jews in the world today have returned in unbelief (not so good figs; secular and unbelieving Jews preparing to rebuild the Temple, etc.).

Israel is starting to blossom (It is powerful, prosperous, and some nations are preparing to move their embassies to Jerusalem, etc.).

About half of the Jews in the world today are still in other nations. Some may be part of, or bring forth, the group that is gathered as believing Jews (good figs) at the Second Coming of Jesus.

The length of a generation (Matt. 24:34) is debatable, but many prophecy teachers believe it is 70 years (Psa. 90:10), and Israel will be 70 years old on May 14, 2018.

May 14, 2018 is a significant date. The U.S. will move its embassy to Jerusalem on that date. The PA and Hamas are unwilling to accept this. They are threatening to launch a great uprising against Israel.

Did you see the report that Pres. Trump's peace proposal will be released shortly after May 14, 2018?

The report didn't say how long after (a few days, a few weeks, etc.), but a peace proposal to settle the conflict could soon be on the table.

Another report (denied by the White House) said Pres. Trump wants Israel to give up four communities in Jerusalem that will become the capital of a new Palestinian State. People need to pray that the White House denial is true.

Did you see the report that India has already scanned the fingers, faces, and eyes of its 1.1 billion citizens and put the data in its new ID system?

Citizens had to agree to allow their government to do this if they wanted to be eligible for welfare, own a cell phone, have a bank account, take an exam at school, etc.

Did you see the report that Facebook has already started ranking news organizations, and studies show that conservative groups are losing traffic and liberal groups are gaining traffic?In addition to that, it appears that Mr. Zuckerberg wants to overcome the division in America by suppressing what Christians and conservatives believe and boosting what liberals believe.

Truth is being cast to the ground, and the spirit of antichrist is on the rise.

On August 15, 2005, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon began forcibly removing Jewish settlers from their homes in Gaza under what was known as Israeli Disengagement. By September 12, Sharon had unilaterally given up Gaza as a peace offering to the "Palestinians," who had adopted the slogan "Gaza today, Jerusalem tomorrow." On August 15, 2005, The Daily Jot reported: "It is almost chilling to watch the events leading up to Israeli Prime Minister Arial Sharon's so-called "disengagement" plan as the world pressures Israel to unilaterally give up covenant land for the mere hope upon hope that there might be a semblance of peace between Israel and the Palestinians."

The 8/15/2005 Jot continued: "Former Sharon cabinet member and once Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu plead with Israeli leadership last week to end the disengagement plan and to come to its senses. Like many, Netanyahu believes giving up land without concessions is a demonstration that terrorism pays and that Israel's national security will be forever threatened. Certainly Israel's military understands the significance of Netanyahu's concerns. Middle East News Line reports that Israel's military has revised its withdrawal plan to account for a scenario under which the eviction of Jewish residents from the Gaza Strip would be completed amid massive Palestinian fire and heavy Israeli casualties.

"Netanyahu called disengagement an "evil" and urged Members of the Knesset to stop it. He said he has warned the Sharon government that the Palestinians will only use the Gaza land to establish a terrorist base of operations and that the nation of Israel's defense and security may be undermined by disengagement. He said, "I am calling on all those who grasp the danger: Gather strength and do the right thing. I don't know if the entire move can be stopped, but it still might be stopped in its initial stages." And he warned, "The government is advancing in total blindness. They have eyes but don't see. They have ears but don't hear."" By June 2006, "Palestinians" were launching missiles from Gaza at civilian targets in Israel.

Fast forward over a decade later and the headlines read "Clashes erupt along Gaza-Israel border ahead of US Embassy inauguration" and "100,000 Palestinians gather for March of Return from Gaza." Reports are saying the Hamas-led "Palestinians" want to take Jerusalem and prevent the US from moving its embassy there. The 2005 Disengagement is a reflection of Jeremiah 6:14, "They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people lightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace." Netanyahu and others who opposed "Disengagement" 13 years ago look like prophets. Sadly, those who warned of the peril of Gaza at the time are experiencing the consequences of such foolish leadership today.

Then we will not turn back from You; revive us, and we will call upon Your name. -Psalm 80:18

Charles Finney, who was known to be a part of a great revival, said, "The experience of revival is nothing more than a new beginning of obedience to God."

Any genuine revival that has ever happened in human history has brought about repentance in the lives of the people, a change in the community, and evangelism en masse.

We need a real revival today-not just an emotional experience and not just a tingle down the backbone. We need to see God work, because our nation needs it as never before. We don't need some new thing. We don't even need a "fresh word from the Lord." Rather, we need to get back to the old things, to the very standards that God gave us, and we need to practice those.

I like what Jeremiah said: "Thus says the Lord: 'Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls'" (Jeremiah 6:16 NKJV).

The early church, the one that Jesus started, turned their world upside down. They set the world on fire. But the church of today is much larger than the early church and has considerable resources, with incredible technology to utilize. Yet it seems as though the world is turning us upside down. Why aren't we setting our world on fire? Because we need a revival. We need an awakening.

We talk about the need for revival in our country and about the need for change in the church. But we must each ask ourselves these questions: Am I personally revived? Am I living as a committed, on-fire follower of Jesus Christ?

If you are not, then you are part of the problem, not part of the solution.

FROM THE HEARTIF YOU HAVE BEEN BLESSED THROUGH THIS MINISTRY, THEN WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD PLEASE REMEMBER PROPHECY UPDATE IN YOUR GIVING - WE ARE TRULY, TRULY, THANKFUL FOR YOUR SUPPORT

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"Folks, it's all beginning to unravel. America is in more danger of falling than at any time in its history. But I believe Bible prophecy predicts this very decline. From this point on, we believers have to get serious. We are going to face discouragement, disillusionment and, most certainly, persecution in the time between now and the Rapture. But don't be discouraged or disillusioned. The coming turmoil will provide us unrivaled opportunities to share the good news of the Gospel. So be ready to share your faith and your hope with those who need Christ. We still have time to reap a great harvest of souls for God's kingdom!" - Hal Lindsey

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Our Prayer for You- "Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else." 2 Corinthians 9:10-13